Starlink for preparedness ?

[Ellipse]

Of course if the sky fall on our head I'm not sure satellites or Internet will still be functional, even in part, but who know?

When it happen, either you're still alive and can try to use it, or it's too late to have one. So I'm considering the option.

The purchase price of the kit is around 300€ in France. The basic contract is 29€/month but I'm not very interested beyond the account activation. I bet on that the access will be open in case of major Earth event.

Starlink

High-speed internet. Available almost anywhere on Earth.

starlink.com

 

[Deneb]

The question is, after sky fall, what will you need starlink for? Browse cass forum? most probably internat will fail before the event.
Satellites only transmit the data but all infrastructure is on the surface, server big and small serving myriad of elements of the net, if any element die there will be nothing to transmit.
Hard to predict its usefulness but starlink wouldn't be on the top of my list for shtf moments

 

[axj]

It might indeed be better to download what you need such as books in case the Internet is gone. It is pretty resilient, the original design was for it to be able to withstand nuclear war through a decentralized structure, I think. So having a Starlink just in case may also be useful, eg. to know what is going on.

 

[mkrnhr]

In the eventuality that the sky falls, and supposing that it leads to a survival situation, knowing what happens in the immediate environment would be more urgent. The geeks who maintain the internet are not the most likely to survive anyway. Binoculars, radio, warm clothes, good shoes, and fishing gear probably.

 

[Persej]

Things are certainly moving in that direction. One day, all of us will probably have access to satellite internet.

Apple reportedly plans ambitious satellite-powered iPhone features | TechCrunch

While Apple’s iPhone already supports texting, calling emergency services, and contacting roadside assistance via satellite connectivity, the company may have many more satellite-powered features in the works.

techcrunch.com

 

[Ellipse]

Of course this come after cited goods, foods, medicine and shelter but this is about what @axj said: the idea is to know what is going on if it's possible. If you're the only one which manage to communicate with abroad it can help a lot everyone, if only on an emotional level.

You can be in a part of the world where most is destroyed or simply there's no more power, and it lasts, but it's OK on other parts and the satellites can make the link. Even if some are shooted it should still work especially as they are on a not geostationary orbit. That mean some of the remaining should pass over your head at a moment or another. There's actually 9,422 satellites, 12,000 are planned in the near futur. They communicate with the ground with designated ground transceivers. Meaning that those transceivers must work too and it's a weak point but they communicate between them through lasers so I guess the whole can go through remaining transceivers.

The other weak point I see is if some satellites are destroyed, won't the debris destroy the whole thing? On the other hand, those satellites are relatively small (around 15 meters with deployed solar panel).

I checked the consumption and it's 30/40 W in idle mode and 60/65 W when transferring data. That mean ~0,40 m² or something like a 60×70 cm (23.6 × 27.6 inches) solar panel should be OK to power the ground antenna. So something like the size of a small table. Provided there isn't too much dust in the atmosphere I guess...

Satellites only transmit the data but all infrastructure is on the surface, server big and small serving myriad of elements of the net, if any element die there will be nothing to transmit.

As @ajx said, it's supposed to withstand a nuclear war thanks its decentralised structure.

 

[axj]

How much the sky falls and for how long is quite open, I think. There are many variables. Regarding Internet access, the biggest difficulty may be in making the monthly payments since the banking system seems more fragile than the Internet itself. Though if banking is offline too long, all the server and domain payments would also be impossible to do.

 

[EmeraldR]

How much the sky falls and for how long is quite open, I think. There are many variables. Regarding Internet access, the biggest difficulty may be in making the monthly payments since the banking system seems more fragile than the Internet itself. Though if banking is offline too long, all the server and domain payments would also be impossible to do.

Another major difficulty which seems pertinent is new technology that can jam satellite signals -as has been reported recentlyregarding starlink over Iran ! Apparently it was partially jammed with pretty sophisticated military grade jamming technology- I havent got a link to provide - but imo I find it entirely plausible .

 

[axj]

Though if banking is offline too long, all the server and domain payments would also be impossible to do.

Considering it some more, there are payment options outside of banking too - cryptocurrencies, which incidentally are also decentralized and can withstand large parts of the Internet going down. I suppose people could get quite inventive, no matter what comes our way.

Another major difficulty which seems pertinent is new technology that can jam satellite signals -as has been reported recentlyregarding starlink over Iran ! Apparently it was partially jammed with pretty sophisticated military grade jamming technology- I havent got a link to provide - but imo I find it entirely plausible .

Jamming of Starlink seems much more likely in countries that are opposed to the US.

 

[Paranthas]

I would try to train my psycic abilities, like dream communication or telepathy. A part from that general preparedness for adverse situations. The real trouble is if you are in the city things would get real ugly real fast, getting out of it with conventional ways are futile at best. Better to be ready mentally first. Anything else is secondary. Even though hope to be jumped to an alternate reality where catastrophe wouldnt need to happen.

 

[irjO]

Let’s say there is no electricity, how are you even going to connect to a satellite?
Or let’s say you have battery packs, and you are able to connect for a week or 2.
Who is going to maintain internet servers also in that case for you to be able to connect to sites or anything else?

A radio and survival kits/tools are more valuable than this.

 

[axj]

Let’s say there is no electricity, how are you even going to connect to a satellite?

You can easily have solar power. If Starlink ground stations or something like that are without power, then that is a different issue.

Who is going to maintain internet servers also in that case for you to be able to connect to sites or anything else?

We don't know how much of the world would be affected. It is not a given that everything will be down everywhere.

A radio and survival kits/tools are more valuable than this.

It is not really an either/or decision, I think. What is needed for survival comes first. Starlink is quite optional and not important.

 

[Scottie]

Given the nature of our network, I think it's a good idea to at least know how to connect to the net in different ways. We currently have 2 backup plans. And in the event that neither of those work, we'll figure something out.

More generally, I suspect any kind of preparation for potential chaos is a good idea because at the very least, it sends a signal that you're paying attention. Of course, it's always possible to go overboard based on too much doom scrolling and fear and so on... but better that than choosing to do nothing at all!

 

[Ellipse]

How much the sky falls and for how long is quite open, I think. There are many variables. Regarding Internet access, the biggest difficulty may be in making the monthly payments since the banking system seems more fragile than the Internet itself. Though if banking is offline too long, all the server and domain payments would also be impossible to do.

On a major event, I bet a minimum of free access would be made available if the architecture is still working or after it will be repaired, if possible, to be functional.

I would try to train my psycic abilities, like dream communication or telepathy. A part from that general preparedness for adverse situations. The real trouble is if you are in the city things would get real ugly real fast, getting out of it with conventional ways are futile at best. Better to be ready mentally first. Anything else is secondary. Even though hope to be jumped to an alternate reality where catastrophe wouldnt need to happen.

Psychic abilities don't develop overnight and can be as scrambled as possible.

 

[तत्परिवर्तनं भव]

Can anyone recommend good book for survival, but also "city survival"? Radio transmiters-recievers that can send messages acros 250-1000km battery powered etc. What type of clothes,foods to have,carry?